In his thirties, Jesus Christ began his public teaching and display of recorded miracles, yet still never travelled more than 200 miles from his birthplace. Over a three year period, despite his efforts to keep a low profile, Jesus Christ's reputation spread nation wide. The Roman governors and rulers of Israel's provinces and the leaders of the Jewish people (the religious counsels) took note of him. Jesus Christ's key messages included:

• God loves you and is with you
• Love one another
• Immense value of each person
• Good news: Christ the King has come to earth
• Reality of judgment to heaven or hell
• God forgives those who ask

Jesus Christ was brutally tortured and then hung by his hands, which were nailed to a horizontal wooden beam (cross). This method of execution restricted the airflow to his lungs, killing him in three hours. However, according to more than 500 witnesses, Jesus Christ returned from the dead three days later, and over the next 40 days journeyed in both the southern and northern provinces of Israel. To many, this was conclusive proof that Jesus Christ's claims to be God were real. Then Jesus Christ returned to Jerusalem, the city where he was recently executed, and according to witnesses, he left the earth alive by rising up into the sky.

As a result of these miraculous events, the number of his followers increased dramatically. Only a few months later in that same city of Jerusalem one record states that some 3000 new followers were added in a single day. The religious leaders responded by trying to stomp out Jesus Christ's followers. Many of these people chose to die rather than deny their belief that their Lord Jesus Christ was truly God.

Within 100 years, people throughout the Roman empire (Asia Minor, Europe) became followers of Jesus Christ. In 325 AD, the following of Jesus Christ, Christianity, became the official religion of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Within 500 years, even Greece's temples of Greek gods were transformed into churches for followers of Jesus Christ. Although some of Jesus Christ's messages and teachings were diluted or miscommunicated through the expansion of a religious institution, Jesus Christ's original words and life still speak loudly for themselves.

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Helpful links to related questions/topics

Jesus` Last Words, Final Hours on Cross and Jesus` Death John Describes Jesus As Son of God or Messiah Jesus Predicts His Death Statements of Purpose Before the Sanhedrin The Birth of Jesus Christ On the Road to Emmaus Jesus on Cross with Condemned Criminal